The Wrist and Finger Joints

• Remember, a joint is simply two bones which

articulate. The wrist/hand region consists of 29
bones and multiple joints - which lends to high
mobility.

• Our goal is to understand functional anatomy in

order to apply knowledge to physical therapy,
exercise prescription, for example. (so we’ll stick
to gross movements of the wrist/hand)
 Terminology
• Wrist:
– as a joint, it is the articulation between the
forearm and hand.
– Sometimes, the wrist is discussed as a region,
which would include the carpal bones.
• Hand
– the bones distal to the wrist joint.
– As a region, the wrist is part of the hand.
 Bones
• 29 bones including:
– (2 from the forearm, 27 from the hand)
– distal aspect of the radius and ulna
– 8 carpal (bulk of the hand)
– 14 phalanges (the fingers)
– 5 metacarpals
– total: 2+8+14+5=29
 Bones
• Radius and Ulna
– the radius is more massive distally than the ulna
– the ulna is more massive proximally than the radius
– Remember, forearm pronation and supination are the
result of the radius rotating about the ulna
 Bones
• Carpal Bones
– 8 total
– 2 rows of 4
– Proximal row:
• pisiform, triquetrum, lunate, scaphoid
– Distal row:
• hamate, capitate, trapezoid, trapezium
 Bones
• Metacarpals
–5
• Phalanges
– 3 per finger
– 2 per thumb
 Joints
• Wrist Joint
– Classified as a Condyloid Joint
• allows for flexion, extension, radial and ulnar
deviation
• Remember, radius=thumb side
– The motion of the wrist is due to the articulation of the
radius and proximal carpal bones (or Radiocarpal joint).
– There is an articular disk between the distal aspect of
the ulna and triquetrum
 Joints
• Proximal and distal interphalangeal joints
– Fingers:
• classified as ginglymus joints
• allows for flexion and extension
– Thumb:
• consists of three joints, the first two are classified as
ginglymus joints
– metacarpophalangeal: g.j.
– interphalangeal: g.j.
– carpometacarpal: trapezium and metacarpal; saddle jt.
Movements of the wrist and hand
• Wrist (remember start from anatomical position)
– Flexion
• (or palmer flexion): anterior deviation from
anatomical position.
– Extension: dorsal flexion
– Abduction
• (or radial deviation or radial flexion)
– Adduction
• (or ulnar deviation or ulnar flexion)
 Movements
• Fingers
– Flexion: anteriorly directed movement
– Extension
– Abduction: movement of the fingers away from the midline of
the hand.
– Adduction
– Thumb opposition: movement of the thumb to oppose any
of the phalanges
 Summary of bones and joints
• 29 bones make up the wrist and hand
– radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges
• The wrist is primarily the articulation of the
radius and proximal carpal bones
• There are many joints in the wrist/hand
– fingers: metacarpal phalangeal, proximal & distal interphalangeal
– thumb: carpometacarpal, metacarpal ph., interphalangeal joints
 Summary of movements
• Wrist:
– flexion, extension, abduction, adduction
• Fingers
– flexion, extension
• Thumb
– Abduction, adduction, flexion, extension,
opposition
Muscles of the Wrist and Fingers
• There are 15 critical muscles
– 6 muscles are group as primary movers for
wrist flexion and extension actions
– 9 muscles are group as primary movers for
hand (finger)
– of the 15 muscles
• 6 are primary movers for wrist ulnar deviation
• 2 are primary movers for wrist radial deviation
 Muscles causing wrist actions
• Wrist flexors
– flexor carpi radialis
– flexor carpi ulnaris
– palmaris longus These muscles do
not cause finger
• Wrist extensors movements
– extensor carpi radialis longus
– extensor carpi radialis brevis
– extensor carpi ulnaris
 Muscles
• Finger flexors
– flexor digitorum superficialis
– flexor digitorum profundus
• Thumb flexor These muscles assist in
– flexor pollicis longus wrist actions
• Finger extensors
– extensor digitorum
– extensor indicis
– extensor digiti minimi
• Thumb extensor
– extensor pollicis longus
– extensor pollicis brevis
 Muscles
• Wrist radial flexors
– flexor carpi radialis
– extensor carpi radialis longus
– extensor carpi radialis brevis
– abductor pollicis longus
– extensor pollicis longus
– extensor pollicis brevis
 Muscles
• Wrist ulnar flexors
– flexor carpi ulnaris
– extensor carpi ulnaris
• Wrist flexors
– Origins generally on the anteromedial aspect of the
proximal aspect of the forearm and medial
epicondyle
– Insertions: anterior aspect of the wrist and hand
• Wrist extensors
– origins: posterolateral aspect of the proximal
forearm & lateral humeral epicondyle
– insertions: posterior aspect of wrist and hand
• Wrist abductors
– Origin: anterior or posterior aspect of forearm
– Insertion: radial side of hand
• Wrist adductors
– Origin: ant or post aspect of forearm
– Insertion: ulnar side of hand
 Abductor pollicis longus (p155)
• Origin
– posterior aspect of radius and ulnar midshaft
• Insertion
– Base of 1st metacarpal (thumb)
• Action
– thumb abduction
– radial flexion
 Extensor indicis (p156)
• Origin
– middle to distal one-third of posterior ulna
• Insertion
– base of middle and distal phalanxes
• Action
– extension of index finger (1st)
– weak wrist extensor
 Extensor pollicis brevis (p157)
• Origin
– posterior surface of lower middle radius
• Insertion
– base of proximal phalanx of thumb
• Action
– thumb extensor
– weak wrist extensor
 Extensor pollicis longus (p158)
• Origin
– posterior lateral surface of middle aspect of
ulna
• Insertion
– Base of distal phalanx of thumb (dorsal surface)
• Action
– wrist extension
– thumb extension
 Flexor digitorum profundus
(p159)
• Origin
– proximal three-fourths of the anterior and
medial ulna
• Insertion
– Base of the distal phalanxes
• Action
– flexion of four fingers
– wrist flexion
 Flexor pollicis longus (p160)
• Origin
– middle anterior surface of radius and anterior
medial border of ulna
• Insertion
– base of distal phalanx of thumb
• Action
– thumb flexion
– wrist flexion
 Extensor carpi radialis brevis
(p161)
• Origin
– lateral epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion
– Base of 3rd metacarpal (dorsal surface)
• Action
– wrist extensor
– Radial flexion
– weak elbow flexor
 Extensor carpi radialis longus
(p162)
• Origin
– humerus, lower 3rd of lateral supracondylar ridge and
lateral epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion
– Base of 2nd metacarpal (dorsal surface)
• Action
– wrist extensor
– radial flexion
– weak elbow extensor
 Extensor carpi ulnaris (p163)
• Origin
– lateral epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion
– Base of 5th metacarpal
• Action
– Wrist extension
– Ulnar flexion
– weak elbow extensor
 Extensor digiti minimi (p164)
• Origin
– lateral epicondyle of the humerus
• Insertion
– base of middle and distal phalanxes of 5th
finger (i.e. pinky)
• Action
– ‘pinky’ extension
– weak wrist extensor
 Extensor digitorum (p165)
• Origin
– Lateral epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion
– bases of middle and distal phalanges of fingers
• Action
– finger extension
– wrist extension
– weak elbow extensor
 Flexor carpi radialis (p166)
• Origin: medial epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion: base of 2nd & 3rd metacarpals,
anterior surface
• Action:
– wrist flexion
– radial flexion
– weak elbow flexor
 Flexor digitorum superficialis
(p168)
• Origin
– medial epicondyle of humerus
– ulnar head: medial coronoid process
– Radial head: upper two-thirds of anterior border of radius
• Insertion
– lateral and medial sides of middle 3 phalanges (palmer surface)
• Action
– finger flexion
– wrist flexion
– weak elbow flexor
 Palmaris longus (p169)
• Origin
– medial epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion
– palmar aponeurosis
• Action
– wrist flexion
– weak elbow flexor
 Flexor carpi ulnaris
• Origin
– medial epicondyle of humerus
• Insertion
– pisiform, hamate & base of 5th metacarpal
• Action
– wrist flexion
– ulnar flexion
– weak flexor of elbow